Foreword

"With effort comes result; to obtain result, effort of equal value must be used. To obtain a goal, time of devotion must be lost. To work nothing and expect result—is impossible no matter the circumstances. That is the human nature in contrast to the law of equivalent exchange. Life and life's progress relies on this promise."

Chapter 12 – Prepare! The Syndicate makes its Move!

Unconscious and dressed out of her Duel Disk and tattered Ra Yellow Blazer, Artemis struggled breath into an oxygen mask. Various small machines supplied oxygen and recorded her vital signs with wires taped to her right arm. Many of the worse injuries had been bandaged, leaving small scratches.

Standing beside was Mokuba, along with Iago and Greg, the students who found her. Mokuba looked over to the students, "So you just found her like this?"

Iago nodded, "Some time after the explosion. Weren't sure why there was one and was about to check it from the distance. On the other side of the dorm we found her battered like she lost a rout."

Greg added, adjusting his sunglasses. He stood about two heads higher than Iago and stood behind his left shoulder, "What was odd was how we found her. She was lying on the ground as if she wasn't exactly thrown off her feet. It was more like she was carried to the dorm and just placed there."

Mokuba nodded, trying to comprehend their story. Another personnel of the medic team walked in. She had very long blue hair with ends almost reaching her knees and very worried blue eyes. What got most of the attention was fact she looked like she was a few years younger than Saphira, and held a job rather than attend class. Another attention-grabber was the speedy iguana barely dragging its belly on the floor behind her.

She first check on another student brought in, equipped under an oxygen mask also. Then she paced over to Artemis, and looked as if some of her worry was lifted, "She's recovering…slowly but surely; a couple of burns but nothing too severe. Unfortunately she'll be out of her classes for a day or two."

"That serious Aria?" Mokuba asked, getting a nod in return.

Aria sighed, "I'll handle things from here. I kinda need to fill in my internship."

Mokuba nodded and began to usher the two students out. "If there's any trouble call the rest of the team."

"She just needs rest, I'm sure." Aria said and waved goodbye to the visitors. Once Mokuba shut the door behind him, Aria looked back on Artemis' bed. I'm sorry but you must leave too, Sasuke Samurai. She thought aloud and caught Sasuke completely off guard.

The midget warrior was just sitting on Artemis' bedside, now he was on one of the counters, glaring at Aria. How did you know I was here! He demanded. You can see card spirits as well?

Aria turned to face his with seriousness in her eyes. Artemis needs rest. You leave now! She demanded sternly.

Not until I know how you can see me! Sasuke demanded back. Aria shook her head.

Sasuke Samurai, I'm very surprised that you do not recognize me. Aria thought sharply and pulled a necklace out from under her shirt. It was a very intricate design with a blue teardrop crystal in front of a broad silver leaf.

If Sasuke had a jaw, it would drop. Finally all of Aria's physical attributes were put together. His eyes slid to the iguana that was looking at Sasuke expectantly. Oh myforgive me. Sasuke apologized, kneeling to Aria.

Artemis needs rest; you go back to her room. Now. Aria commanded and Sasuke sped out.


GarnetShadow and OnyxEntropy had boarded a private plane and their flight in progress to Duel Academy. Despite his mass of finger armor, he had no problem skimming through his deck. Sitting across from him, GarnetShadow delicately polished the gemstones dawned on each of her fingers. She was thinking aloud, "Why would Master have us represent that student?"

OnyxEntropy grumbled, "We need to sway away from the intended target, as far as I know, the student he directed us to have no outside relations whatsoever. At least that's what he told me."

GarnetShadow looked more confused, "So all we're doing is collecting information from one student while representing another?"

"To drive suspicion away," OnyxEntropy finished and put his deck away.

"That's going to be pretty hard to do." GarnetShadow doubted and pointed out the window. Both of them looked, as there was a second column of smoke rising from the volcano. "That's not one of the dormant volcano vents."

OnyxEntropy growled, "Us coming this soon, there's probably something going down and they might catch on to us." He reached for the cell phone and speed dialed. Once the line picked up, he reported. "Master, we might want to delay the plan. Something happened on Duel Academy."

The Master sound annoyed on the other end. "What happened, OnyxEntropy?"

"We're not sure, but it isn't the island's volcano reviving. There's another smoke cloud rising not far from the mouth." He explained. "Should we turn back?"

"No!" came the reply, "If you've seen the eruption then odds are you've flown into their airspace. Resume our plan and keep cover. It's a simple information retrieval and I don't want any screw-ups! Now hand the phone to GarnetShadow." He commanded and the other took the phone.

"Yes Master?" GarnetShadow sounded polite in greeting.

"Your skills are required, I need you to look into a different student. Keep OnyxEntropy on the current assignment but you're after this student." The Master ordered. GarnetShadow nodded as if to understand the order but not the motivation.

"So I need to confirm that student's role in the academy?" She asked to make things clear.

"If she is there, I'll step up myself. After that is accomplish returned to the first mission. Both must be completed before you report back to me again, understand? No screw-ups!" Then the line went dead.

GarnetShadow sighed, "A lot on your shoulders, isn't it?"

"Shaddap…" OnyxEntropy growled.

GarnetShadow shrugged, "We'll be there in about half-hour."


A Miko broke from her trance—apparently something disturbed her. With a sigh she stood up on her feet and brushed a small amount of dust off of her black pants. She turned her head towards a table with a long necklace of beads and two mortuary tablets. The Miko felt the absolute bitterness in the possessed pieces of wood.

After a moment, she slid the door open and startled another person. A woman slightly younger than her with milk chocolate skin and deep brown hair tied in a low ponytail and strands behind the ears tied in yellow ribbons.

"Oh, Ms. Ryu? Did I disturb?" she asked.

The Miko answered, "Depends, what do you want?"

"Mr. Knight is here." She said. The Miko acknowledged and stepped out. Before heading outside she carefully slid the door to another room. Much like her quarters it was small and dim with candlelight and burning oil scents.

Near the back corner, there was a child half the Miko's age sitting in the seiza position facing a table and in open book. Her small fingers probed the book's pages carefully, reading with her fingertips and studying hard.

The Miko carefully slid the door shut and voiced herself softly so as not to disturb the child, "Lyra?" The child's fingers stopped scanning the pages and looked up. She just looked up but not towards the Miko.

The child now named Lyra replied. "Ryu-sensei?" The Miko stepped up and put Lyra's hand in hers.

"Lyra, a friend of mine called me, asking me to leave the Inn." Ryu admitted in a soft voice. "I'm faced with several decisions: to go with or without you, or stay here." She kneeled to face Lyra.

Lyra paused before speaking. "So…why is that a decision, to go with or without me?"

"Why do you think staying her isn't an option?"

"Because that person who called you is your friend right? Really?" Lyra tried to sound persuasive but she still had a timid overtone. "If you need to go, then go."

The Miko had a soft smile. "But what about you and your studies? I'm the only one that can help you as an Itako. And I can't slack, for your future."

"Then I guess that you have only one option. I'll come with you." Lyra insisted, both hands holding the Miko's.

She sighed, "I don't want this trip to be any distractions; for you or for me. You need to get as much study as possible while you're still young. You're lucky, I was late to being a full-fledged Itako. But then again my late teens were the fastest years for events. I became a full-fledged Itako at 19, two years ago." Ryu explained, "In most cases that's a mistake; many girls are already Itako at 13."

"I'll keep studying, I'll review until you can come and teach me. Your friend needs you to go." Lyra sounded a bit stronger in her voice.

The Miko smiled softly, petting the child's head. "You'll be diligent in your studies while I see to business?"

"Yes." Lyra answered quickly.

There was a knock on the door, "Knight is getting impatient."

"I'm coming in a minute." Ryu replied and began to pack Lyra's clothes in the duffel bag she came with. After her clothes, she placed Lyra's book into the bag. "I'll need to grab a few more items and we'll be on our way out."

"OK." Lyra nodded and the Miko went back to her room, gathering up the mortuary tablets, a third one, and the long beaded necklace off her table. She pulled her sleeves of her red dress shirt up to strap the tablets to armband holsters. Then she took the necklace and looped three times before slinging it over her shoulder. Last she opened a chest off the side of her room and took out a long carrying holster meant for a sword.

The Miko checked the blade before she left. A beautiful sword with no trace as an identity of a katana, it was more of a medieval sword, and its blade was carved with runes. "OK, that's everything and everyone." She muttered and pulled up her bag with sword on the shoulder that didn't have the beads over.

Back in Lyra's room, the girl had her bag in her hand. Ryu took Lyra's hand and signaled for them to head out.

Knight waited in a green '95 Chevy S-10. When he saw Ryu he perked up. "Hey, what's been holding you?" he looked down at the girl next to his friend. "And who is she?"

"She's my student, and she's coming with us." Ryu answered and kneeled to Lyra's level. "This is another friend, he'll help me watch over you."

Lyra cracked a smile, "Thank you Ryu-sensei."

Knight chuckled, "Yep, seems like she is your student. Well toss your things in the back, it's a bit of a drive before we get to the airport." Ryu popped the back and placed the bags in but kept her mortuary tablet handy. Knight looked through the rear-view mirror. "Another tablet? She tell you the Academy's haunted or something?"

Ryu shut the back of the Chevy. "No, but I do know I'm going to get another client while we're there… I'll make him pay this time." She opened the back door and let Lyra climb in first and buckled her seatbelt.

"Any idea who your client will be?"

"Not in the least but I can say this: I will not have the time I had with my two prior accomplishments." Ryu replied. Then she pulled herself into the front seat and the Chevy left the Temple Inn gates.


Kaiba's superiority allowed him to intrude into the infirmary where two students were still recovering. Aria was still tending to Artemis with her iguana perched on her shoulder. She looked up surprised, "Headmaster?"

"What's the status?" He asked coldly.

"Nothing that couldn't be mended; a couple of burns at worst." Aria reported.

Kaiba looked over the injured student, acknowledging the reports. "Those injuries are possibly the lightest we have." He then glanced to the boy older than Artemis in another bed. "And he's not one of mine."

"Fubuki Tenjoin." Aria identified, "He was one of the students missing in the abandoned dorm."

"I sometimes wonder what that old man Kagemaru was thinking. It had to take a dozen missing students before his area was condemned." Kaiba commented, "I guess it was about time that building was torn down…if I called it. Make sure they make a full recovery; I'll have Hidama and the rest of security investigate who done it." Aria understood and nodded and Kaiba walked out.

Outside, a small airplane glided across the water's surface to a halt. Once the engines were shutdown, the folding stairs slid out and the passengers stepped out.

The first one out wore a thick leather long-rider coat, sleeves even covering his hands, with venom yellow eyes gleaming and jet black hair lying flat. Behind him was a woman almost of the same physical attributes except toxic green eyes and she wore a black dress decorated with small gemstones in tidy fashion. Her hands both had different foundations of rings for garnet.

GarnetShadow looked up and shaded her eyes from the sun. "I've been thinking, the Master has become very careful about his approach this time."

OnyxEntropy mumbled, "Let's just get in and out. Find the first person that would know what's going on. We'll begin with our representative." Both looked up to see someone come to the dock where their plane was set afloat, Chronos.

Chronos formally requested, "Name and state of business?" Their plane came in just after the dorm exploded…they can't be overlooked.

OnyxEntropy shrugged, "Our names are of no importance to you. We're here to see a student, a close friend of ours."

Chronos' eyes squinted, "And who might that student be?"

OnyxEntropy shook his head. "Again, no importance to you. You're better off forgetting we were even here." Before it could be registered, Chronos was knocked unconscious with small scratches on his neck behind tatter frills of his uniform collar. OnyxEntropy covered the finger armor on his right hand under his sleeve again and smirked, "You'll be out for an hour at best."

GarnetShadow looked at the fallen Obelisk, "You do realize we're undercover, right?" She asked rhetorically.

"Yeah, but the Master said to wipe the memory of those that know too much…I just paraphrased on that, 'those that want to know too much.'" OnyxEntropy shook the attempt of insult off. "So where is our student?"

"Slifer Dorm." GarnetShadow answered simultaneously, "However I've been given something extra to take care of."

OnyxEntropy twitched, "He gave you an extra assignment?"

"Well yeah, when he first saw those files of entries I thought something caught his eye and he gave me a slightly different assignment, a confirmation if you will. You deal with her, I've got something else to do." GarnetShadow answered, "And if just one thing slips…I will impale my stones into your head so hard you'll look like the moon's surface. Clear?" She threatened, showing her rocks.

"Crystal." OnyxEntropy couldn't help but feel fear for a moment and the two splits up.


Slipping into the main building was easy enough, but GarnetShadow had to be more reclusive, avoiding the security cameras. Her feet moved lightly across the floor. I search the computer records, I'll know of she's here…I don't see why Master need the confirmation, those files he has are those that made it to Duel Academy…why am I thinking like OnyxEntropy? I just have to find the nearest mind and read it. GarnetShadow's thoughts ended her at the door to the nurse's office where a couple of students were resting under surveillance equipment.

Once she saw no one else, she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. There was one security camera that she was out of sight from for now. GarnetShadow reached into her pocket for a piece of twine that had tied ends of semiprecious gemstones; she spun it several times before tossing it around the lens scope of the camera. She had additional wire wrapped on her finger and jerked once, causing the camera lens to pop off and lose focus.

The deed was done and GarnetShadow approached one of the beds, specifically Artemis. Her toxic eyes lit up. "Fancy running into you here…" She mumbled and scanned Artemis', finally found what she needed to retrieve. While she searched for the chain clasp and unclipped it, she had a minute of thought. "Maybe you know why the card shipments are canceled."

GarnetShadow tucked the quartz necklace away and hovered a hand inches over Artemis' forehead. She focused on the gemstones to her hand and began to close her eyes in concentration. GarnetShadow could see more than what she needed, and her stones were getting them all; in fact the details of imagery were so vivid that she swear she was standing inside those memories.

The images were random, she could see that the timeline of thought jumped like skipping stones across water. She saw Artemis younger, happy like any other young child. In the next image a second later Artemis was older, more aggressive. She saw tournaments come and go, victory and defeat at the finals. Then she saw what she wanted. A group of students gathered in front of an announcing administrator.

GarnetShadow broke trance and looked back on Artemis. "A little more that I wanted or needed, but this will be enough for Master." She hissed and rewound the wire that connected her beaded thread and crept out of the infirmary.


OnyxEntropy bounced back, just moments ago he ultimately blew his cover. How…how the hell did I screw up? I was only walking to the Slifer dorm for my assignment then this woman shows up! He panicked and lifted his head to be facing Saphira. Behind her were Daitokuji and Rackham all surprised of Saphira's instinct to catch the Goth without problem.

Saphira cracked her knuckles. "You're going to tell us why you're here if I don't beat it out of you first." She threatened.

OnyxEntropy gritted his teeth, I blew my cover, but if I blow GarnetShadow's I'm a dead man anyway. "Bad chance, I'll take you down before I even talk!" OnyxEntropy charged with his hands under his sleeves.

He must be hiding something on his hands. She turned to the two admin behind her, "Get a hold of security. If I'm dragging somebody back, it's going to be a dead body." Saphira accepted the challenge and lunged into the fray.

Rackham already had his PDA open and dialing. Daitokuji began to back up, "We don't need to be in Saphira's way while she's doing her job."

The first hit barely connected between them. Saphira's forearm diverted OnyxEntropy's thrust by eighths of inches. His arm came in on the open and she ducked from another swing overhead. In the given, she threw her own punch at him and sent him spiraling to the ground.

Unfortunately, he recovered quickly before Saphira could land a pin and made a half-circle around her, his aim for her throat from behind. Behind you! There was a gleam in Saphira's eye and she threw her elbow back, landing successfully between his eyes. Should have brought my sword! She cursed and the two continued to fist fight, launching kicks when the opportunity acknowledged it. Both came at each other with equal attacks and easily predictable blocks, there was no time to think ahead and gain advantage. However, OnyxEntropy had kept his weapon of choice concealed under his long sleeves.

There was a breakaway for the both of them and OnyxEntropy had a second of breath, and saw on his pager the number of success. He nodded and returned his eyes on Saphira. "All right, I'll show you not to mess with me." He smirked and tore away half his sleeves, silver ring armor glistened in the sun on all ten of his fingers.

I thought I felt something on his hands in his punches. He has to be absolutely covered in metal. Saphira thought and zipped open the sides of her skirt to give her more legroom. After preparations, both came at each other again. OnyxEntropy's first strike was a mistake as Saphira sent herself sideways to avoid the thrust and she caught his wrist.

However, Saphira's reaction was an error. OnyxEntropy's claws grappled on Saphira's arm and broke skin. She jerked back but with a deep cut on her arm. Saphira couldn't let herself be distracted from her injury; OnyxEntropy's next attack had an aim to her throat. She went sideways and sprung herself to get distance, ten feet at least.

OnyxEntropy snickered, "You shouldn't overexert yourself. My armor is tipped with a chloroform nerve agent, a special mixture used to render my target temporarily paralyzed and unconscious. It's a bit slower than gas form but at least I don't have to be affected by it."

"Does it look like I care?" Saphira grumbled and continued fighting, being more careful about his claws. OnyxEntropy found enough in the fighting and broke away; this time turning around and darting off back to the plane.

GarnetShadow had made it to the plane first, but the propellers were beginning to turn. "I thought I told the pilot to wait until we came back!" She shrieked and ran around Chronos' unconscious body and another form sprawled out on the ground. …If that's the pilot, then who is flying the plane? She pondered and made it to the door of the plane, seeing a mass of black ragged hair at the controls.

"I'm outta here! I've done my job!" Scossa called out from under the particle mask.

"But not mine!" GarnetShadow shrieked and threw her hand out at him. Without touching him Scossa was out cold. She shoved him aside and took the controls herself, but by now she couldn't turn around to pick up her partner. "He's on his own." She muttered and the plane skied off the water.

OnyxEntropy saw the plane take off from the shore and he look stunned, "How could she do that to me!" He roared before he felt the impact on the back of his skull: Saphira's fist had landed right this time and knocked him unconscious. OnyxEntropy fell to the ground with Saphira putting all her weight on his back, even one of her raised heels in his vertebrae.

Saphira nodded with confidence that one of the intruders were captured, but before the rest of security came, she removed his ring armor carefully so as not to get scratched again.

"Saphira!" a voice called out and saw a team of five in dark green uniforms rush up. One of them was extremely young to be on the team but it didn't stop the fiery determination in her red eyes and matching crimson hair. "Saphira, are you all right?" By her feet was an orange fox pup.

"I'll be fine Hidama. Just get this man cuffed, confiscate his tools, and put him in confinement." Saphira ordered, "And be careful with those ring armor, they're tipped with some sort of poison." Hidama and the rest of them went to work.

"You didn't get struck, did you Saphira?" Hidama asked as she picked the ring armor into a plastic bag.

"Just a scratch…" She mumbled, trying to hide the gouge in her arm and looked ahead. "Get him also." She referred to the unknown pilot sprawled on the ground with ash-beaten clothes.

On the other side of her feet Chronos was beginning to wake up, rubbing the sore on his throat. He grumbled, "What…what was that?" One of the security personnel helped him to his feet. "Where did they go?"

"Who're they?" Saphira asked coldly.

"Those two fools in black." Chronos looked around the crowd and spotted OnyxEntropy, "That's one of them!"

"There were two?" Saphira wanted clarification.

"Before one of them knocked me out, I saw two come off the plane. Both of them with a shoddy sense of fashion." Chronos answered.

You're to talk. Hidama and Saphira's thoughts were alike before Saphira grunted, clutching her arm tightly and dropping to her knees.

"Saphira!" Hidama called out and tried to support her with another one on security.

"That poison must be strong, you need to get to the infirmary now." Hidama's partner stated and began to help Saphira to the main building, the others dragging OnyxEntropy and the pilot. Saphira exhaled grimly while trying to keep herself awake.


GarnetShadow panted at the door to the Master's quarters, with the quartz necklace in her hand. She had the rest of the members take care of Scossa and she tried to reform herself before knocking on the door with her gemstone knuckles.

"GarnetShadow?" the Master's voice asked on the other side of the door.

"Yes, Master. I have done my mission." GarnetShadow replied.

"And what of OnyxEntropy?"

GarnetShadow bit her lip before answering, "He blew his own cover, but I was able to get his mission with mine."

There was a long silence before the Master spoke up again, "Proceed." He admitted GarnetShadow in, where as she arrived to meet him at a desk and a pair of chairs. His hands propped his chin and his elbow sat on top of the student files.

Without words, the Master opened one of his hands—as if routine, GarnetShadow pulled one of her rings off her finger and dropped it in the Master's open palm. He closed his fingers around it, and GarnetShadow's hands wrapped around his. "What do you have…" he mumbled.

He closed his eyes and saw what GarnetShadow had collected, all the answers he had been looking for. After long minutes, the trance ended, but the Master's face could only express shock and regret.

"Master?" GarnetShadow asked with curiosity.

"Leave…" he commanded quietly and leer at GarnetShadow. "I said leave! Put the necklace on my desk and get out!" He demanded and GarnetShadow swept herself away from his presence. Once alone the Master exhaled deep breaths to calm himself, his fingers picked up the clasp of the necklace and let the quartz charm hang on the silver chain.

He grimaced with resistance, trying to hold everything back. Finally he dropped the necklace on the desk and cupped his hands to cover his face. "I'm sorry…"

Now the plot begins! Saphira here and we are done with the main cast introduction on Duel Academy. In the next episode we prepare the biggest trap and finally end the card shipment thefts. I'm expecting company also and they're friends I haven't seen in quite a long while. Next time, "Ready! The School-wide Project!" Wonder if they're holding up all right…


Original characters

Aria - Gema J. Gall

Hidama - Gema J. Gall